Why SOC 2 Compliance Matters for Safety Software

Why SOC 2 Compliance Matters in Safety Software

While SOC 2 compliance is not a legal requirement, it’s a widely accepted benchmark for determining whether a safety software vendor can be trusted to handle company data. Choosing a Safety Software SOC 2 certified vendor helps you:

• Confirm that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect data
  
  
• Verify that controls exist to support system availability, including infrastructure monitoring and disaster recovery
  
  

• Reduce the risk of legal, financial, and reputational harm resulting from data breaches or system failures

• Reinforce trust with your workforce, who rely on the system to keep their personal and safety-related information secure

How SOC 2 Evaluates Internal Controls in Safety Software

A SOC 2 audit evaluates whether a safety software vendor's internal controls effectively support the security, availability, and reliability of its platform. Here’s how each of the Trust Services Criteria applies to safety software:

Security: Addresses the risk of unauthorized access through controls such as encryption, user authentication, role-based access, and real-time monitoring. This is foundational for protecting worker safety records and personnel data

Availability: Evaluates whether the vendor has controls in place to support system availability. This includes infrastructure monitoring, incident response, data backup, and disaster recovery.

Processing Integrity: Verifies that data is processed accurately, timely, and without unauthorized alteration or corruption

Confidentiality: Verifies the protection of sensitive data through access restrictions, role based privileges, and encryption at rest and in transit

Privacy: Confirms that personal information is collected, used, retained, and disposed of in accordance with applicable privacy laws—critical for systems storing PII or health-related data

Key Security Features to Expect from a SOC 2 Compliant Safety Software Company

When reviewing or evaluating potential safety software vendors, safety professionals should look for these foundational controls:

• Access Controls: Implementation of least privilege, multi-factor authentication, and role-specific permissions
  
  
• Encryption Standards – End-to-end encryption for both data in transit and at rest, using up-to-date protocols such as TLS 1.2+ and AES-256
  
  
• System Monitoring – Real-time monitoring of infrastructure and application performance to detect anomalies, service disruptions, or unusual activity that could impact system availability or data integrity.
  
  
• Disaster Recovery Preparedness – Documented recovery plans, offsite backups, and tested restoration procedures to ensure business continuity in the event of outages, data loss, or system disruptions.
  
  
• Processing Controls: Use of input validation, data integrity checks, and automation safeguards to ensure accurate and consistent system behavior
  
  
• Privacy Management: Documented policies and technical enforcement aligned with CCPA, GDPR, and similar standards
  
  
• Security Testing – Penetration testing and vulnerability assessments are conducted to identify and address potential weaknesses before they can be exploited.

Risks of Working with Non-Compliant Vendors

Selecting a safety software vendor without SOC 2 certification exposes your organization to unnecessary risk:

• Data breaches due to missing or weak security controls
  
  
• Regulatory non-compliance with safety, privacy, or industry standards
  
  
• Operational downtime during critical incidents, limiting your ability to track and respond in real time
  
  
• Loss of employee trust in the confidentiality of their reports and participation in the safety program

SOC 2 Compliant incident reporting software helps avoid these risks by offering stronger controls and clear accountability.

How to Validate SOC 2 Compliance

SOC 2 claims can be misleading. Take the following steps to verify that your vendor meets real standards:

• Verify the Type of SOC 2 Report: Ask which report the company has the SOC 2 Type I or Type II report. Type I assesses the design of controls at a single point in time. Type II evaluates how effectively those controls operate over a defined period and is generally preferred.
  
  
• Ask for the SOC 3 Report: A SOC 3 report provides a general overview of the organization’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Unlike a SOC 2 report, it does not include detailed descriptions or test results and is intended for broad public distribution. It offers high-level assurance that the vendor has passed a SOC 2 Type II audit and is following industry-recognized standards for managing risk and protecting customer data.
  
  
• Confirm scope and systems covered: Ensure the report includes the actual safety software you plan to use, along with any integrated modules or third-party services
  
  
• Review key controls: Focus on access controls, data handling policies, monitoring, encryption, and incident response
  
  
• Ask about third-party testing: Verify that the vendor conducts regular vulnerability scans and independent penetration tests. These assessments help validate the security of the safety software and ensure that critical weaknesses are identified and addressed
  
  
• Avoid vague language: Terms like "SOC 2-ready" or "aligned" mean nothing unless backed by a completed audit and formal report

Final Thoughts

SOC 2 compliance offers safety professionals a structured, proven way to evaluate the security posture of software vendors. It reflects a vendor’s maturity, discipline, and ability to deliver safety software data protection across all aspects of your safety program.

While it doesn't eliminate all risk, it significantly reduces the likelihood of preventable breaches, system failures, or compliance issues.

Choosing Safety Software that is SOC 2 Compliant isn't just a best practice—it’s a strategic decision to protect your data, operations, and people.

Next Steps for Safety Teams  

• Review the SOC 2 status of your current vendor
  
  
• Verify that security controls are in place and operating as intended
  
  
• Make SOC 2 type II compliance a minimum requirement for evaluating future vendors
  
  
• Educate leadership on the importance of verified safety software data protection standards
  
  
• Strengthen your internal data handling practices to align with what you expect from a secure safety management platform

To learn more schedule a 20 minute introductory call consultation.

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